jfg wrote:I don't mean to troll this thread, but I used to love watching soccer, and have tried watching some Euro... It's impossible to watch with the flopping. I've counted 23 career ending knee injuries just narrowly avoided in this game alone. How can you watch this sport anymore?

What I don't get is why they drag it out so long. If you want to clutch your leg to try to get a call, that's fine, but the ref usually makes a call immediately after contact and they never reverse it based on someone writhing on the ground, so why bother? Unless it's late in the game and they're trying to kill time, which is not when the majority of this stuff happens, there doesn't seem to be a reason to keep the act up after the call is made.

I'd have no problem with them whining about not getting the call. That happens all the time in the NBA and I can get past that. But the dramatics bother me so much. They could at least fake a different type of injury... mix it up a bit.

Yes, flopping happens. Yes, they exaggerate things a bit. However, I don't think you guys fully realize what happens when you're running at such high speeds and get clipped on the foot/leg. The slightest touch can legitimately make someone go flying at that speed. Furthermore, IT STINGS. When something stings like that, you react to it, similar to how these players react. After a minute or so, the sting wears off, adrenaline kicks in, and they can get back on with it. So sure, there is some flopping, but it's not nearly as much as you guys (or many other people) suggest.

I did play soccer up until sophomore year of college and I know that you can get stingers and I also know the speed and level I played at was light years away from European professional leagues. But, most of the time, they show the replay and the guy wasn't even touched. I don't think they need to fix the problem, because I think the refs are doing a lot better at not calling obvious flops. But nobody wants to see it so I don't get why broadcasters focus so much on it. It would be one thing if it's something fans tune in to see.

Holy crap I hate the Portuguese team. The flopping was unbearable. Stupid Ronaldo was arguing a call while the play went on behind him and he stood there yelling at the ref ignoring the play. Of course a replay showed that the guy hadn't been touched and was faking.

The Italians were not much better. The Irish would get clipped and get up and keep playing, but touch an Italian and it's a whole operatic death scene. I was upset that the Irish were on the attack and actually had an advantage but had to kick it out because there was an Italian dead in the Irish end. The guy was not even breathing let alone moving. Of course once play was stopped he was able to get up and hobble around and was fine 2 minutes later.

When replays clearly show somebody has faked an injury, ie. they go down and the replay shows that they were not touched, there should be a suspension. Simple. Suspensions for the poor sportsmanship.

Yeah, I've watched a lot of this tournament and I realize now that it's just certain teams that are terrible with the flopping. Most of the games have been really good about it.

I would like to see suspensions as well, but they would be so easy to appeal. Like I said before, I just want to see stations cut away from it and not focus on that aspect of the game. Nobody wants to see it, and I would think it would be in their best interest to stop focusing on it. Treat diving like streakers. Don't show it because nobody wants to see flopping.

Have to say that I was embarrassed by England performance against Italy. After a pretty decent start, it seemed like they decided to play for penalties with about 30 minutes gone. Very defensive-minded and comprehensively out-played by an Italian team who deserved to win comfortably.

Have to say that I was embarrassed by England performance against Italy. After a pretty decent start, it seemed like they decided to play for penalties with about 30 minutes gone. Very defensive-minded and comprehensively out-played by an Italian team who deserved to win comfortably.

England has a lot of work to do. Italy should get handled by Germany with ease. I'm pumped for the Spain/Portugal matchup.

Me either, but as much as I hate flopping, Ronaldo's the most exciting thing this tourney has left so I'm looking for a couple amazing games from him without the theatrics (yeah right) in hopes of seeing something really special.